Colonel “Sid” As We Knew Him
In Section 66, Site 5912, Arlington National Cemetery rests Lt. W. A. Sidney (Col. Ret.), airborne paratrooper and multi-decorated commander of Company L, 15th Regt. 3rd Infantry Division in Korea (1952). Interred with him was his gifted military foresight. Unfortunately, the details of this man who saved numerous lives in our platoon are buried with him. I would like to make the readers of this blog aware of our hero who was cited three times (WWII, Korea, Vietnam) for the Combat Infantry Badge. This indicates that he was exposed to enemy fire for at least thirty days and was awarded The Silver Star Medal three times for outstanding heroism.
On August 8, 1952, patrolling along a cliff overlooking the Imjin River, the 2nd platoon was caught in an ambush by the Chinese at Hill 117. After a fierce firefight, the Chinese apparently withdrew. With an 80-foot cliff behind us, and the Imjin below, Lt. Sidney, aware that our return path might have the enemy lying in ambush for our return, decided that we scale down the cliff, with our casualties in hand. The platoon waded safely back to our MLR (Main Line of Resistance).
On August 12, 1952, artillery and supporting cannon fire from a British Centurion tank and its heavy machine guns bombarded Hill 121. It was now ready for our attack. The Hill was rubble as we made our way towards the entrenched Chinese. When we were ordered to withdraw, screams from the rear overwhelmed the din of combat. Lt. Sidney, anticipating an attempt to encircle our company stationed our Hawiian 57 mm recoilless rifle team on a hill behind us. Three white phosphorus rounds incinerated their attempt.
Forty-five years after Korea, Company L began their reunions. After four reunions, Col. Sid passed away. He was the glue that kept us together in Korea and the glue that kept us together at our reunions.
The Third Infantry Division created a Col. W. A. Sidney Outpost 52. With Daniel Wolfe as its president, the men of Company L had been reunited.
For further information about Company L in Korea, read,
Cold Ground’s Been My Bed: A Korean War Memoir by Daniel Wolfe